I don't see the big deal, really, we're just entering another phase of civilization.
Think about it, just one generation ago my grandfather was born in a clapboard shack on the prairies into what we would now consider third-world poverty. Likewise, my oldest uncle had to start a woodfire in the mornings during the winter so they could thaw enough water to bathe before walking to school. We're talking full-on Grapes of Wrath stuff.
Now we live in downright opulence (comparatively speaking) with running water, electricity, much easier access to higher education, free healthcare (at least up here in Canada), multiple-car families as the norm, and a comprehensive set of institutions to safeguard human rights and freedoms.
We're now in 2008 and our little corner of humanity has weathered the storm of a massive economic collapse, two world wars, a cold war, outbreaks of disease, natural disasters, etcetera etcetera and yet we're still mysteriously plugging along and the quality of life for most people is still going up.
I'm not saying it's impossible, just look at that giant clusterf***k called Zimbabwe, but something way more drastic than higher gas prices and a few more hurricanes would be required to roll back the clock to even the way of life of my great-grandparents.
To play Devil's advocate, even if that scenario were to take place, would it be all that bad? I mean, our ancestors survived, obviously, and produced many fine achievements. Our descendants would inevitably get the wheel rolling again.
Problem is, not many people see things this way so yes, there will be a lot of panicky sheeple looking for a comfortable authority structure to take shelter under.
marmot
JoinedPosts by marmot
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28
IF gas prices go to $10, and these major disasters continue......
by AK - Jeff in....like the one in myanmar now, will we not see the apocalyptic religions just explode in growth, including jw's?
even during relatively calm times, these groups can stir the 'sheep' to believe that the tribulation is just around the corner.
if we continue to see major disasters, what effect do you see in these groups?.
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marmot
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My Story-A Sioux Indian in the Watchtower Organisation
by ExjwSiouxChief inmy name is chief waneta ('the charger') of the sioux nation.
since the leaving of the seven falcons when i was a child, my family joined the jw cult.
chief waneta wanted to do a rain dance.
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marmot
Unfortunately, Dave, mouth-breathing troglodyte a-holes seem to be a universal phenomenon.
I've even encountered them in Sweden when I went there for a wedding. -
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My Story-A Sioux Indian in the Watchtower Organisation
by ExjwSiouxChief inmy name is chief waneta ('the charger') of the sioux nation.
since the leaving of the seven falcons when i was a child, my family joined the jw cult.
chief waneta wanted to do a rain dance.
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marmot
Hey buddy, take the Hollywood Indian act elsewhere. I get enough of that bull**** at work from bumpkin redneck frenchmen who think they're funny.
If you're really Sioux try giving us a legitimate introduction instead of the two-bit comedy act. There are other First Nations posters on this board, y'know. -
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GB sidles out of 1919 and puts 1914 in the bin. (WT study.)!!
by hamsterbait inhas anybody noticed in many recent watchtowers that christ is now said to have "turned his attention to the earth in 1914.".
unlike the 60's they do not say christ "came" in 1914. the "proclaimers book " p137 says the bible students came to discern that "christ did not return, (even invisibly), in 1914.".
the way is now paved.
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marmot
Uh, guys, I don't even get the WT and Awake anymore but even I know that that's just a spoof.
The language is all wrong for an "official" pronouncement from the pages of the present-day WT. That reads like something out of the early 70s, which maybe shows what era the spoof's author had their formative experience. -
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Movies about the Book of Revelation?
by sacolton indoes anyone know of a movie that uses the visions described in the book of revelation?
i'm not looking for some cheezy hollywooodized soap opera ("left behind") - just a documentary or film that attempts to show what the scriptures are illustrating.
anything like that?
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marmot
Not quite what you're looking for, but the 1985 Russian movie "Come and See" uses Revelation 6:8 as an inspiration.
It's a film set in WWII Belarus and follows a young boy's path through the horrors of war. -
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I totally cross Xbox 360 off my want list.
by 5go inmy cousin has one and loves it.
though i don't see why he has had in the shop more than he has played it.
it sent it in threee time for one issue.
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marmot
The newest ones have a new motherboard and chipset that fixes the dreaded "red ring of death" issue.
I've had mine since October and have put it through seriously heavy use and it runs just fine. It's also covered by a 4-year warranty from microsoft in case the problem does occur.
Get one, it doesn't make sense to be a rabid fanboy anymore 'cause there are too many good games available for it. My brother has a PS3 and while I like it, it has barely a handful of games worth owning and there's not much in the pipeline except for Metal Gear Solid 4. -
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Overcoming deep depression....success stories??
by oompa inguys, for those who know me here, i apologize in advance for being such troublesome pain in the ass.
i have had some scary low spots these past two years, and was imo on way too many meds.
i really had a death wish for awhile, and do not want to revist that feeling.
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marmot
Had suicidal ideation since I was thirteen, a few attempts and hospitalizations between then and now, been through a litany of different medications and therapies and it's only since I left the witnesses that things have really started to improve.
My situation's a little different in that it turns out I have a form of bipolar disorder, so I'll often "recover" spectacularly from a long and ruthless depressive phase and be fine for several months only to slide back into another living hell all over again.
I find the constantly negative witness mindset of living a deferred life ("this system is passing away" blah blah blah) plus the constant guilt (always needing to "reach out", God hates masturbation, you can't get married until you're "spiritually mature") completely f*cked with my head. Now that I no longer have those constraints I'm learning to shape my thinking patterns positively. The medication plays a large role right now but I'm finding that there are skills that I can put to use that will save me from going into a tailspin when I notice the black thoughts creeping in. -
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I am fed up with "Where else would I/We Go?"
by OnTheWayOut init is a standard answer that i get from the few jw's that i speak with.. "the organization has it's flaws, but where else would we go to be among.
people who strive to do [jehovah's/god's] will?".
"i don't understand all the doctrine, nor take it as seriously as you do, but .
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marmot
Terry, I believe you're forgetting a little scuffle around 1054 called the great schism. ;)
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Richard Dawkins Gets "Expelled" by Ben Stein!
by Perry ini just got back from seeing the new movie release "expelled" which is a documentary exposing the militant culture of supression regarding intelligent design in the scientific community.
in a "million years", i never would have imagined that ben stein could get the author of "the god delusion", richard dawkins to speak favorably about i.d.
(intellignet design).
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marmot
Chrisjoel, if 1+1=2, did God have to make a law for this to happen?
Did God have to make a law that states the ratio of a circle's circumference to its radius is 3.14159?
Saying that an intelligent designer had to put the laws of physics in place so that the Universe would function is just as preposterous as those two examples. -
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Book study reminiscing - what was your memorable bookstudy experience.
by yadda yadda 2 ini must admit to feeling a bit nostalgic, sentimental now about the loss of the good old home book study arrangement.
there are many rather pleasant memories coming to the mind of various homes i attended for the book study.
i can still remember vividly most of them.. it had a warm, convivial, family feel about it.
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marmot
Another female-themed reminiscence, I had a perfect vantage point to stare at the rock-hard nipples of a girl that I had a major crush on. I did this for the whole 45 minutes and wanked like a madman when I got home.